Permutation-lock for bottle-stoppers.



No, 827,053. 'PATENTED-JULY 24, 1906.4

gno. BOWERS. rBRMUTA-mIoN-LOGK EUR BOTTLE' sT'oPPBRs.

.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1905.

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NITEI) STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

PERNIUTATION-LOCK FOR BOTTLE-STOPPERS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 19L6.

Application filed June 27, 1905. Serial No. 267,218.

To all whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, JOHN C. BOWERS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Permutation-Lock forBottle-Stoppers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to permutationlocks; and it consists,substantially, in the details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention has reference more especially to permutation-locks forbottle-stoppers and one of the principal objects thereof is to provide adevice of this kind of an embodiment to overcome numerous disadvantagesand objections encountered in the use of other structures hithertodevised for a similar purpose.

A further object is to provide a permutation-lock for bottle-Stopperswhich is simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture, besides bein effective and reliable in use and capable o'long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantiallysuch as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is anenlarged top plan view of a permutation-lock embodying my improvements.Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lock on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are reduced detail views showing theoperations of each of the tumblers employed and taken on the lines 4 4,5 5, and 6 6 of Fig. 2, respectively, a portion of the tumbler 31 beingbroken away.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated thatin the form of my improvements herein shown I employ a permutation-lockfor bottle-Stoppers comprising a casing of special construction carryingspecial means for sup orting the cork or other stopper for the bott ewith which the latter is employed, the said casing having mountedtherein a speciallyconstructed spring controlled bolt, cooperating withwhich are a plurality of tumblers, each of special construction, whichrequire to be brought into certain positions relatively to eachother, bywhich to enable the lock and stopper for the bottle to be removed. Iemploy a specially-constructed dial-plate for the lock, in associationwith which is a rotatable knob having special means for operating thetumblers to cause the bolt to become either engaged with or disengagedfrom a portion of the neck of the bottle, and while I have hereinrepresented my improvements in a certain preferred embodiment it will beunderstood, of course, that I am not limited thereto in precise detail,since immaterial changes therein may be made coming within the scope ofmy invention.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating charactersthereon, 1 represents the neck of an ordinary glass bottle, preferablyprovided at its upper end with an annular flange 2 and formed interiorlynear the upperedge thereof with an annular channel or oove 3. Extendingwithin the mouth o the bottle for a suitable distance is a metal orother suitable casing 4, preferably of tapering form downwardly andhaving the base 5 thereof formed with a central opening through whichextends a short section 7 of a pillar or post 8 of greater diameter thanthe said short section 7 thereof and formed therein from its lower endwith a threaded opening 9, said short section 7 being enlarged at 10, soas to thus form an annular groove in which is received the edge portionsof the hereinbefore-mentioned central opening of the base 5 of the saidcasing 4 of the lock. Screwing within the said opening 9 is the threadedportion 11 of a screw 12, having at the lower end thereof a head 13,said screw being inserted through a suitable opening therefor in a corkor other stopper 14 for the bottle which is tightly secured to the underside of the casing, as will be understood, a washer 15 preferably beingemployed between the head of the screw and the lower surface of thestopper 14, although it is apparent that the same way be dispensed with,if desired. Also, if desired, both the head of the screw and the saidwasher may be covered over or inclosed by any suitable material (notshown) by which to prevent the contents of the bottle from becomingcontaminated by contact with the metal thereof, as will be readily unpderstood.

The casing 4 is provided at itsfupper edge with a horizontally-disposedflange 16, extending considerably beyond the outer face IOO IIO

of the flange 2 of the bottle seating upon the said iiange -2 and havingthe free edge portion thereof embraced by the continuously-inturned edgeportion 17 of a dial-plate 18, provided on the surface thereofconcentric with its top member 19 with a series of ordinary graduationsor indicatormarks 20. (See Fig. 1.) The top member `19 of the saiddial-plate isprovided with a central opening 2], through which extendsaspindle or stem 22, having rigid connection at 23 with the knob-plate 24of a knob 25, said knob-plate being provided at one or more pointsthereof with lines or indicating-marks 26 and 27 to denote the startingand finishing points of the rotation or revolution of the said spindle22 in effecting the proper operations or turning movements of thespeciallyconstructed tumblers employed within the casing, as will bepresently more fully explained.

Seated upon and rigidly secured to the up,- per surface of the base 5 ofthe casing in any suitable way is the base-flange 2S of an upstandingcircular or tubular guide 29 for the split portion 30 of a circular ortubular tumlbler 31, the height of which is greater than the height ofsaid guide 29, and the same having formed in the body thereof at asuitable height a horizontally-disposed slot 32, extend- `ing for asuitable distance of the circumfer ence thereof, this tumbler beingfurthermore provided with a notch or open-ended Slot 33, extending for asuitable distance from the upper edge thereof. In virtue of this splitconstruction of the lower portion of said tumbler 31 it is apparent thatthe same will ht within the guide 29 frictionally and with such degreeof tightness therein as to permit the same to be rotated in the mannerand for the purpose presently to be explained. Surrounding thehereinbefore-mentioned pillar or post and having frictional rotatableconi tact therewith is the split portion of another circular or tubulartumbler 34, having at the upper end thereof an outwardly-extendingannular flange 35 of proper depth and formed vertically therethrough ata suitable point thereof with a notch 36, which accordingly as thetumblers of the lock are to be brought into position either to cause thebolt to become engaged with or disengaged from the bottle may be carriedinto or out of alinement or registry with the hereinbefore-mentionednotch 33 in the upper edge portion of the said circular or tubulartumbler 31.

Referring back to the hereinbefore-mentioned spindle or stem 22, it willbe noted that the same is formed at or near the lower end thereof withan annularly extending groove 37, which does not extend for quitel thefull circumference of the spindle or stem, but the terminals of whichare separated by a division 38. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The cirsaid flange16 cular or tubular tumbler 31 is provided at a 65 i suitable point ofits circumference with a l horizontally-disposed pin 39, the inner end iportion of which extends within said groove l 37 and the outer endportion of which projects through the hereinbefore-mentioned 7o l slot32 of the said tumbler. Formed rigid l with the spindle or stem 22 is afurther tuml bler 40, provided at a suitable point thereof i with anotch 41, extending vertically through the same, (see Fig.6,) the sidesof said notch being divergent from each other and rounded l at 42. (Seealso Fig. 6.)

The casing, at asuitable point thereof adjal cent to thehereinbefore-mentioned flange 16,

is provided with an opening 43, within which 8o i plays the operativemember 44 of a bolt 45, supported in position by means of a spring 46,secured in any suitable manner to the base 5 of the casing 4, the innervertical edge ofthe said bolt45 being struck on acurve 47, the 8 5purpose of which will be understood later on. From the foregoing it willbe understood that when the spindle or stem 22 is turned, through themedium of the knob 25, so as to bring the notches 33, 36, and 4l,respectively, of the tumblers hereinmentioned into registry or alinementwith each other, the controlling-spring 46 of the bolt 45 will cause therounded inner edge portion of the said bolt to be carried into the saidmentioned notches, and thus will the operative member 44 of the bolt bewithdrawn sufficiently within the opening 43 of the casing to releasethe engagement of such member with one or both of the walls of thechannel or groove 3 in the bottle. Now it will be understood the entirestructure may be withdrawn from the bottle and again inserted thereinwhenever desired. When again inserted, in order to againeffect lockingengagement of the member 44 with the bottle the knob 25 of thedial-plate is turned in the left-hand direction, carrying with it thespindle or stem 22, and in virtue of the curved sides 42 of the saidnotch 41 in the tumbler 40, carried by said spindle, it is apparent thatthe bolt will be caused to be moved outwardlyagainst the tension of itscontrolling-spring, thus to cause the member 44 thereof to be projectedwithin the said channel 3. Then by repeated turning of the spindle infirst one direction and then the other it is apparent that the tumblerswill be so moved about as to absolutely prevent disengagement of theoperative member of y the bolt from the bottle until the tumblers areagain specially operated to bring them into the iirstdescribed positionthereof-'- that is to say, with the notches therein registering orcoinciding with each other. To effect release of the locking engagementof the operative member of the bolt with the bottle, the knob-plate andspindle are turned in the left-hand direction until the indicating-markICO 26 or 27, as the case maybe, (and as presently explained,) isbrought into alinement or coincidence with any particular one of theindieating-marks on the dial-plate 18, (according to the particularcombination which may have been selected by the operator,) and duringthe turning of the said knob-plate it will be understood that thedivision 3S between the extremities or terminals of the groove 37 in thelower end portion of the spindle 22 engages with the inwardly-projectingend portion of the pin 39, carried by the tumbler 34, thus moving thesaid pin and tumbler until the tumbler 31 is carried to the positionindicated in Fig. 4. The spindle22 is now turned in the opposite orright-hand direction until prop er registry of the indicating-marks ofthe dial-plate and knob-plate have been again l effected, the said pin39 having been left in the position to which it was carried. During thisrotation or movement of the spindle, however, the division 38 betweenthe terminals of the groove 37 willhave engaged the inner projectingportion of the pin 39 from the other side thereof, and thus will thecircular or tubular tumbler 34 be carried around to bring the n otch 36in the flange 35 thereof into registrywith the notch 33 of the tumbleri31. By now again turning the knob-plate and spindle in the lefthanddirection until the notch 41 of the'tumbler 40 is brought into registrywith the notches of the tumblers first named the inner vertical edgeportion of the bolt 45 will enter all of the said notches, due

to the actuation of said bolt by its spring, and in this way will thesaid operative member 44 of the bolt be disengaged from the bottle, asalready explained.

The described connection between the dialplate18 and the iiange 16 ofthe casing is such as to maintain said plate rigidly in place during themanipulations of the knob-plate and spindle, as set forth but byapplying suflicient force thereto the dial-plate is capable of beingpartially rotated or turned to alter or change the position of thevertical indicating-mark thereon, with which either the indicating-mark26 or 27 of the knob-plate is to cooperate, in accordance with anychange that may be made in the operative combination of thetumblers-that is to say, whenever the initial position of all thetumblers is changed, as will be understood. The purpose of employing twoindicating-marks 26 and 27 on the knob-plate is to render it confusingto any one attempting to open the lock to gain access to the bottlewithout authority. The series of indicating-marks 20 on the dialplateare herein shown as numbered from 0 to 55, as in the manner of anordinary, safe-lock, and it is thought the construction and operation ofmy improvements will be fully understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A permutation-lock for bottle-stoppers, comprisinga casing to iit within the mouth of a bottle7 carrying a stopper for thelatter, a plurality of tumblers within the casing, an operating-spindletherefor, a bolt for engagement with a portion of the bottle to securethe entire structure therein, and means 'for moving the bolt out of suchengagement on bringing the tumblers to certain positions with referenceto each other and to the bolt.

2. A permutation-lock for bottle-Stoppers, comprising a casing to fitwithin the mouth of a bottle, carrying a stopper for the latter, aplurality of tumblers within the casing, an operating-spindle thereforwith which one of the tumblers is rigid, a bolt for engagement with aportion of the bottle to secure the entire structure therein, and meansfor moving the bolt out of said engagement on bringing the tumblers intocertain positions with reference to each other and to the bolt.

3. A permutation-lock for bottle-Stoppers, comprising a casing to fitwithin the mouth of a bottle, carrying a stopper for the latter, aplurality of tumblers within the casing, an operating-spindle thereforwith which one of the tumblers is rigid', a Self-acting bolt forengagement with a portion of the bottle to secure the entire structuretherein ,.and means for moving the bolt out of said engagement onbringing the tumblersv into certain positions with reference to eachother and to the bolt.

4. A permutation-lock for bottle-Stoppers, comprising a casing to iitwithin the mouth of a bottle, carrying a stopper for the latter, aplurality of tumblers within the casing, an operatingspindle therefor,an adjacent bolt for engagement with a portion of the bottle to securethe entire structure therein, and means for moving the bolt out of saidengagement on bringing the tumblers to certain positions with referenceto each other and to the bolt..

5. A permutation-lock for bottle-stoppers, comprising a casing to twithin the mouth of a bottle, carrying a stopper for the latter, aplurality of tumblers within the casing, an operating-spindle thereforwith which one of the tumblers is rigid, a bolt for engagement with aportion of the bottle to secure the entire structure therein, and meansfor moving the bolt out of said engagement on bringing the tumblers intocertain positions with reference to each other and to the bolt, said'tumblers having notches therein adapted to be brought into registrywith each other', the notch of the tumbler rigid with the spindle havingoutwardly-divergent sides.

6. VA permutation-lock for bottle-Stoppers,

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comprising a casing to fit within the mouth y of a bottle, carrying astopper for the latter, a plurality of tulnblers Within the easing, anoperating-spindle therefor, a rotatable dialplate on the easing, aknob-plate ooperating `with the dial-plate and being rigid with saidSpindle, a Self-aoting bolt for .engagement With a part of the bottle tosecure the entire structure therein, and means for moving the bolt outoi' said engagement on bringing the tumblers to certain positions withreference to each other and to the bolt.

7. `A permutation-look for bottleestoppers, comprising a casing to fitWithin the mouth of a bottle, carrying a stopper Jfor the latter, apillar extending upwardly Within the casing and rigidly supported at thebase of the latter, said pillar having a threaded opening therein, aplurality of rotatable tumblers Within the casing,supported'conoentrioally of the said pillar, an operating-spindletherefor, a bolt for engaging With a portion of the bottle to secure theentire structure therein, means for moving the bolt out of saidengagement on moving the tumblers to certain positions with reference toeaoh other and to the bolt, and a screw-bolt extending through thestopper and entering the said threaded opening in the pillar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN C. BOWERS.

Witnesses:

E. EvERETT ELLIS, JNO. M. RITTER.

